Continuing work in the community: giving back to those who have given us so
much to us.

I have been asked to comment on my community work and how long I’ve done it and
how long I will
continue.

I’ve been involved in community work for over 30 years, including life long work with
the Boys and Girls
Clubs and other charities providing service to their communities.

Those of us who have had the privilege of being a part of the NFL know just lucky we
are to have chosen
careers that pay well and enable us to work with some of the most outstanding young men
in society. As a
result, I always had my players involved in what I called “Community Tuesday,” when
players would visit schools,
churches, play grounds, nursing homes, hospitals, and anywhere wlse there were fans in
special settings who
would get a lift by the presence of our players.

Community Tuesday was how each of us, in our own ways in these settings could
express our thanks and
appreciation to the fans for supporting us and contributing to our ability to do well in the
NFL.

As noted below, I was the individual person to receive an award from The World Sports
Humanitariaion Hall of
Fame. When they presented me with the Community Coach of the Year award, it was the
first time they had given
an award to a person. I was very moved and very honored dto be called “a model for
other coaches.”

My life in the community and at home is defined by the 5 Fs: Faith, Family, Friends,
Football, and Fishing. It
was my privilege to coach throughout the 1990s in the National Football League, as Head
Coach of the Minnesota
Vikings, and to hold several records reflecting my desire to win (the 9th best coaching
record in NFL history with
best coaching record in the 1990s).

Whether on the job, with the team, in the community, or at home, my underlying
theme for success in any
field, in any endeavor, has been perseverance, offering no excuses, and maintaining a
drive to win. I share a
motto with many successful leaders: "Plan your work and work your plan."

In my autobiography, No Room For Crybabies, I tell the story of the different
communities I grew up
in, communities where perseverance enabled me to succeed. I had to overcome bigotry to
succeeded in life and
to climb to the top of my profession. I grew up in the projects of Harrisburg, PA. and was
orphaned when my dad
and then my mother died when I was 11 and 13. As a star halfback with the University of
Iowa Hawkeyes, I also
participated in athlete anti-segregation/anti-prejudice student campaigns. As Head
Coach I turned around the
programs of two major college programs, Northwestern and Stanford, and turned around
the NFL team of The
Minnesota Vikings.

Many still come up to me to share the excitement they felt during our 15-1 record
run in the1998 season.
The Vikings and the New England Patriots are the only teams to suffer only one loss in a
season, bested only by
the 1972 Dolphins who lost no games.

I have devoted part of every summer to camps for kids from the inner city. During
every season, Tuesdays
was community day in which the players and I worked in the community, at schools, and
at boys and girls clubs,
churches, and other settings, helping to give back to the community what the community
has given to us. I
encourage everyone to “Live on the High Road, with Expectations and Commitment at
home, on the field, and in
the community, doing so with desire, dedication, and determination. It is my sincere hope
that all consider
adopting the C.O.A.C.H. pledge for themselves:

Continuing work in the community: giving back to those who have given us so
much to us.

I have been asked to comment on my community work and how long I’ve done it and
how long I will
continue.

I’ve been involved in community work for over 30 years, including life long work with
the Boys and Girls
Clubs and other charities providing service to their communities.

Those of us who have had the privilege of being a part of the NFL know just lucky we
are to have chosen
careers that pay well and enable us to work with some of the most outstanding young men
in society. As a
result, I always had my players involved in what I called “Community Tuesday,” when
players would visit schools,
churches, play grounds, nursing homes, hospitals, and anywhere wlse there were fans in
special settings who
would get a lift by the presence of our players.

Community Tuesday was how each of us, in our own ways in these settings could
express our thanks and
appreciation to the fans for supporting us and contributing to our ability to do well in the
NFL.

As noted below, I was the individual person to receive an award from The World Sports
Humanitariaion Hall of
Fame. When they presented me with the Community Coach of the Year award, it was the
first time they had given
an award to a person. I was very moved and very honored dto be called “a model for
other coaches.”

My life in the community and at home is defined by the 5 Fs: Faith, Family, Friends,
Football, and Fishing. It
was my privilege to coach throughout the 1990s in the National Football League, as Head
Coach of the Minnesota
Vikings, and to hold several records reflecting my desire to win (the 9th best coaching
record in NFL history with
best coaching record in the 1990s).

Whether on the job, with the team, in the community, or at home, my underlying
theme for success in any
field, in any endeavor, has been perseverance, offering no excuses, and maintaining a
drive to win. I share a
motto with many successful leaders: "Plan your work and work your plan."

In my autobiography, No Room For Crybabies, I tell the story of the different
communities I grew up
in, communities where perseverance enabled me to succeed. I had to overcome bigotry to
succeeded in life and
to climb to the top of my profession. I grew up in the projects of Harrisburg, PA. and was
orphaned when my dad
and then my mother died when I was 11 and 13. As a star halfback with the University of
Iowa Hawkeyes, I also
participated in athlete anti-segregation/anti-prejudice student campaigns. As Head
Coach I turned around the
programs of two major college programs, Northwestern and Stanford, and turned around
the NFL team of The
Minnesota Vikings.

Many still come up to me to share the excitement they felt during our 15-1 record
run in the1998 season.
The Vikings and the New England Patriots are the only teams to suffer only one loss in a
season, bested only by
the 1972 Dolphins who lost no games.

I have devoted part of every summer to camps for kids from the inner city. During
every season, Tuesdays
was community day in which the players and I worked in the community, at schools, and
at boys and girls clubs,
churches, and other settings, helping to give back to the community what the community
has given to us. I
encourage everyone to “Live on the High Road, with Expectations and Commitment at
home, on the field, and in
the community, doing so with desire, dedication, and determination. It is my sincere hope
that all consider
adopting the C.O.A.C.H. pledge for themselves:

Awards have included:
• 2001: Community Coach of the Year, by The World Sports Humanitarian Hall of Fame,
&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp the first individual to receive it: “a
model for other
coaches.”
• 1998: Coach of the Year, Maxwell Club
• 1998: Coach of the Year, Sports Illustrated
• 1998: Professional Coach of the Year in the Upper Midwest, Midwest Sports
Channel
• 1993: Pop Warner''''s Golden Football Award for distinguished record of service to
youth,
&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp community, country and
humanity
• 1992: NFL Coach of the Year honors from the Washington Touchdown Club
• 1992: NFC Coach of the Year honors from United Press International
• 1992: NFC Coach of the Year honors from College & Pro Football Newsweekly.

Living on the High Road: Expectation and Commitment at home, on the field, and in the community,done so with desire, dedication, and determination.